You leave Rio at 9:00am and head towards the mountains to visit the Imperial City (Petrópolis). It is a beautiful 90-minute drive via Serra dos Órgãos. As soon as you enter the city, you spot Quitandinha, a former casino. Stop here to see its beautiful gardens and luxurious interior.
During your private tour, visit the main attractions Petrópolis has to offer such as the Imperial Museum, which was the former summer palace of Pedro II, Brazil's second emperor. Here you will walk by tapestries, antique furniture, jewels, and see the imperial crown with over 600 diamonds and 77 pearls, weighing nearly four pounds (1.7 kg).
After lunch it is time to admire the Gothic architecture of St Peter of Alcantara Cathedral and visit the tombstones of Brazil's last emperor, Pedro II and his family. The Crystal Palace comes next. Built in France and presented to Princess Isabel by her husband Count D'Eu, it is an impressive building. At this point you can also visit Santos Dumont's house. Very well-known in Brazil, Dumont was a famous inventor responsible got, among other things, the zeppelins with gasoline engines and one of the first flights in an airplane.
You will also have some free time to visit the famous Rua Teresa (Teresa Street), famous for its shopping.
Because you are taking a private tour you can allocate your time accordingly. If you would like to spend more time at any specific attraction on the itinerary, you may and it is at your discretion. Tour concludes in your hotel in Rio about 5:00pm.
